While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought access and affordability of medicines to the spotlight, it has also underscored the need for more balance, transparency, and accountability in the pharmaceutical sector.
The 2022 Access to Medicines Forum coincides with the preparation by the European Commission of a proposal for the revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislation and the EU legislation on medicines for children and rare diseases, which bring unique opportunities to restore the balance and ensure affordable access to quality, safe, innovative, and effective medicines at EU level. This major revision is taking place against a background of increased focus on addressing antimicrobial resistance, global negotiations on a potential Pandemic Treaty, and the recently launched multistakeholder platform to facilitate dialogue on better access to high-cost medicines by the WHO Oslo Medicines Initiative.
EPHA, its members and partner organizations in our hosted European Alliance for Responsible R&D and Affordable Medicines have been centre stage in contributing to policy debates, forging new coalitions, highlighting the public health and patient-centric perspectives, and advocating for a more inclusive and balanced discussion around medicines policies.
The 2022 edition of EPHA’s A2M Forum provided a unique opportunity for further exchanges and cross-fertilization of ideas between different stakeholders (patients, healthcare professionals, payers medicine agencies, European policymakers, health law experts) on key A2M issues.
